I could dispute at least 1/2 of this dour little prick's comments. But I won't bother.
This essay is even more depressing than a Morrissey song.
And now you can see why European conservatism doesn't win elections. It's the "vision thing". They don't have any.
Not only all of those complaints, but editors today don't know the difference between bail and bale.
And I think the author is confusing defined-contribution pensions (like a 401k) with defined-benefit pensions.
He's got a point there.
And this fella is supposedly on ~our~ side?
Sheesh.
Sir, we now do with pills what would of required surgery 5 years ago. Our Medical delivery system creates marvels every day. Most US children born in this decade will see the year 2100 due to medical advances. Freedom is on the march everywhere.
This author is an idiot, studying to be a moron, ..........and failing. Bye bye.
Ah your Canadian, that explains it. Yes, YOUR country is finished. May as well leave and join us. :-)
So other than that,I wonder how he's been doing?
Oh and furthermore, reading the H.P. Lovecraft while on acid is no safer than taking the acid while above the first floor.
Life was a carnival! We entertained ourselves! We didn't need moooovin' pitchurrrres. In my day, there was only one show in town -- it was called "Stare at the sun!" ... That's right! You'd sit in the middle of an open field and stare up at the sun till your eyeballs burst into flames! And you thought, "Oh, no! Maybe I shouldn't've stared directly into the burning sun with my eyes wide open." But it was too late! Your head was on fire and people were roastin' chickens over it. ... And that's the way it was and we liked it!
Progress?! Flobble-de-flee! In my day, when we were angry and frustrated, we just said, "Flobble-de-flee!" 'cause we were idiots and we didn't know what else to say! Just a bunch o' illiterate Cro-Magnons, blowin' on crusty handkerchiefs, waitin' in lines for our head to burst into flame and that's the way it was and we liked it! "
Speaking of Gloomy Gus Derbyshire, I haven't read Andrew Sullivan's blog in a very long time, but does he still give out Derbyshire awards for over-the-top pronouncements?
Not much to disagree with here.
Pop culture is filth. It is now completely degenerate. Why do you never hear anyone humming a current pop song any more?
So true!
Socialism is popular. Practically all of the Socialist Party platform on which Norman Thomas ran in 1928 has been implemented. Thomas himself noticed this as far back as 1962, exulting that: "The difference between Democrats and Republicans is: Democrats have accepted some ideas of Socialism cheerfully, while Republicans have accepted them reluctantly."
Ayep.
Most of the article rang true. At least he sprinkled some humor in with his bleak assessment. He could have added a final sentence: "Everyone will hate my article." I rather enjoyed it, even though I'm sure he could have found something to be happy about had he really tried.
This just proves my premise, that European conservatism and American conservatism aren't even remotely related. For the Europeans, conservatism means a nationalist form of socialism rather than an internationalist form. For Americans, conservatism means an individualist philosophy (the government should do only what individuals making free choices can't) rather than a statist philosophy. So when we say "conservative" here and there, we're not just talking apples and oranges, we're talking apples and pickup trucks.
Phew, most of his statements are either utter nonsense - "science has stopped" and "Only Anglo-Saxon countries can do democracy" (Spain, India, Italy, Israel, etc.) - or highly arguable,
like "the environment is collapsing".
Enough falsehoods to incline one to OPTIMISM.
He is going to be miserable if he doesn't change his outlook.
"You can't handle the truth! ... You don't want the truth. "